Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-05-06
Kind Words from the Pote Ito
\. Bi shop Ireland.

Is Bishop John 1relrnh OF the Catl,o TIC
church at St. Paul las been, an active
temperance worker for years, and his
efforts in this cause in all directions has
probably accomplished more good than
+ tlie work of any other man in. the state,
itshas been claimed that his zest in this
directions was not approved OF by the
church authorities, and that the part that
lie had. takensin politics had displeased
the Pope. 1t is with pleasure that
Biseop>s friends throughout the state
will read the following letter fran Pope
Leo. Kill: -. "
70 cur Venerable Brother, John
'Vreland Bishop of St. Paul, Mimi;
Eenerable Brother: Health and apostolic;
benedic,ion. TIE admirable works Of
piety and charity by which our fJ1htul
children In the United States labor to
promote not only their own temporal
and eternal welfare, but also that Of
their fellowcitizens, and which you have
recently related to US. give to US exceed
ing great consolation. And above all
we have rejoiced to learn with what
energy and zeal, by means of various
excellent associations, and especially
through the Catholic -Pota}
Abstinence Union, you combat the de
struc,ive vice Of intemperance, For it
lis well known 10 us how ruinous. how
is the injury both to faith
+ and to morals that is to be feared from
inte.nperance in drink. Nor can We
sufficiently prais the preletes of the
United States, who recently in the
Plenary Council Of Baltimore with the
weighliest words condemned this abuse,
decaring it TO le Il prepetual incentive
to SIN and fruitful root of all evils,
plung,ng the families of the intemperate
into The direst ruin, Ahd drawing
! numberless souls down to everlasting
perdition: declaring, moreover, that the
faithful who yield to this vice Of intem-
perance become, thereby scandal to
non Catholic and a great hinderance to
the1pf Of the true religion.
Hence we esteem worthy Of all con-
! mendatiOn the noLle resolve of ourpious
associations, by which they pledge them
selves te abstain totally from every kind
Of intoxicating drink. Nor can it at
all be doubled that this determination
is the proper and The truly etficacious
rclnendy ior this very great evil; and
SO much the more strongly will all be
induced to put this bride uponsappetite
by how much the greater are the dignity
and influence uftht'se who give the ex-
ample. But greatest Of all in this
matter should A,e the zeal Of priests, who,
| as they are called 10 instruct rhe people
in the word of life, and to mold them
10 Christian morality, should also and
above all, walk. before them in the
practice OF virtue. Let pastors, therefore
do their hest drive the p'fxgue of ia
temperance from the fol d Of Christ by
assiduous preaching and exhortalion,
aud to shine before all us models OF
abstinence, tina, SO the many calumi'ies
witt, which these vice threatens both
churches and state may, by thci'
strenuous endeavors, he averIed.
And VIC most earnestly bescech
Almighty God that, in this important
matter, he may graciously favor yoel
counsels. and assist your endeavors
and as a pledge Of the d'yine protection
and as a testimony Of our paternal
affection we most lovingly bestow upon
you venerable brother, and upon your
associates in this holy league, tht
apostolic Nnedior'on.
Given at Rome from St. Peters, ,hi:
27lh day of,narch, in the year 1851, th'
tenth year Of our pontlticate.
.0 a'}}s-.'' LEO XIII, Pope.